An
advisory commission must submit a plan to the legislature no later than
90 days after convening the 2003 session for state legislative and
congressional plans. The Maine Legislature must adopt a plan within 30
days of receiving the plan.

Who’s in Charge of Redistricting?

The
Advisory Apportionment Commission creates a plan, but the legislature
can alter or disregard it. The commission has 15 members; the speaker
and the house minority leader both appoint three, the senate president
and minority leader both appoint two, the chairpersons of the two major
parties both appoint one, and three members of the public. The state
Supreme Court will draw a plan if the deadline is not met. The governor
has veto power over both the congressional and state legislative plan.

Districting Principles

Principle

Congressional

State Legis.

Compactness

+

Contiguity

+

Political sub.

+

Communities

District cores

Incumbents

VRA § 5

+
=
required
-- = prohibited a =
allowed

Public Access

The advisory commission holds public meetings, but most map-drawing is done in private.

Legal Issues

In
1993, the state Supreme Judicial Court reapportioned and redistricted
the state legislative and congressional districts upon the Maine
Legislature's failure to do so.

Irregularly Shaped DistrictNone.

Political Landscape

Because
the advisory commission does not submit a plan until two years after
receiving the census data, Maine did not redraw its district lines
until 1994. The congressional district lines have been almost exactly
the same since the 1960 census, and no big changes are expected in
2001-2.

Contact Information

Michael SaxlSpeaker of the House2 State House StationAugusta, Maine 04333(207)-287-1300(800)-423-2900[email protected]